Abbas Abdi
Encyclopedia
Abbas Abdi is one of Iran's most influential reformists, journalist, self-taught sociologist and social activist.
Abdi studied Polymer engineering at Poly Technique University in Tehran. He was a member of editorial board of Salam newspaper. Abdi is was a member of central council of Iran Participation Front
.
He was the first person to storm the United States embassy in Tehran, along with other students, during the early years of the Iranian Revolution
in 1979. In the following years, he became a critic of the political establishment of Iran. He was a supporter of President Mohammad Khatami
's reform plans, and one of the most influential figures in the reformist camp after 1997. He ran into legal trouble after the Iran student protests, July 1999 following the invasion of Tehran University Dormatories (Kooye Daneshgah), in which the police attacked the dormitory of the university because of student protests following Abdi's article in Salam newspaper.
Abbas Abdi became the director of the Ayandeh public opinion firm
and participated in a poll asking Iranians if they supported resuming government dialogue with the United States
. On 22 September 2002 the official news agency IRNA's published an Ayandeh poll indicating that 74.4% of Iranians favoured a resumption of ties with the United States. Abdi was arrested at his home on 4 November 2002, accused of "having received money from either the US polling firm Gallup or a foreign embassy". Abdi spent several years in prison as a result. In the recent election he was one of the key advisers to Mehdi Karoubi
Abdi studied Polymer engineering at Poly Technique University in Tehran. He was a member of editorial board of Salam newspaper. Abdi is was a member of central council of Iran Participation Front
Islamic Iran Participation Front
The Islamic Iran Participation Front is a reformist political party in Iran...
.
He was the first person to storm the United States embassy in Tehran, along with other students, during the early years of the Iranian Revolution
Iranian Revolution
The Iranian Revolution refers to events involving the overthrow of Iran's monarchy under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and its replacement with an Islamic republic under Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the leader of the...
in 1979. In the following years, he became a critic of the political establishment of Iran. He was a supporter of President Mohammad Khatami
Mohammad Khatami
Sayyid Mohammad Khātamī is an Iranian scholar, philosopher, Shiite theologian and Reformist politician. He served as the fifth President of Iran from August 2, 1997 to August 3, 2005. He also served as Iran's Minister of Culture in both the 1980s and 1990s...
's reform plans, and one of the most influential figures in the reformist camp after 1997. He ran into legal trouble after the Iran student protests, July 1999 following the invasion of Tehran University Dormatories (Kooye Daneshgah), in which the police attacked the dormitory of the university because of student protests following Abdi's article in Salam newspaper.
Abbas Abdi became the director of the Ayandeh public opinion firm
Ayandeh (polling organisation)
Ayandeh is an opinion poll organisation in Iran that was closed down in 2002.One of Ayandeh's directors, Abbas Abdi, was arrested in at his home on 4 November 2002, accused of "having received money from either the US polling firm Gallup or a foreign embassy". Abdi spent several years in prison...
and participated in a poll asking Iranians if they supported resuming government dialogue with the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. On 22 September 2002 the official news agency IRNA's published an Ayandeh poll indicating that 74.4% of Iranians favoured a resumption of ties with the United States. Abdi was arrested at his home on 4 November 2002, accused of "having received money from either the US polling firm Gallup or a foreign embassy". Abdi spent several years in prison as a result. In the recent election he was one of the key advisers to Mehdi Karoubi
External links
- BBC News: Leading Iranian Reformist Arrested
- TIME Europe: Interview with Abbas Abdi
- IRNA: Abbas Abdi Stand Trial Over Polling Case
- BBC News Story. Reference to Abbas Abdi's Role in 1979 U.S. Embassy Takeover in Tehran
- Center for World Dialogue: Former US Hostage, Barry Rosen, Meets His Iranian Captor, Abbas Abdi
- NY Times: Hostage-Taker, Reformer, Pessimist: An Iranian Life
- Official website